Safety-valve for gas-pipes.



'-NO. 824,933. PATENTED JULY a, 1,906.

A. W. JBNGZBWSKY. l SAFETY VALVE FOR GAS MBBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10I 1905.

M5565 doy/WJ ew@ M @VMM ADOLPH IV. JENOZEWSKY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

SAFETY-VALVE FOR GAS-PIPES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application iiled May l0. 1905. Serial No. 259.814.

@ all whom t may con/cern,.-y

Be it known that I, ADoLPn W. JENcZEw- SKY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety-Valves for Gas-Pipes and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an automaticallyacting or self-closingsafety-valve intended to be applied to a supply-pipe forilluminating-gas at a point within a house or building and adapted toclose the pipe against the passage of gas from the main in case a fireoccurs within said house or building.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In carrying out my invention I provide the gas-supply pipe within thecellar or basement of the building, between the gas-meter and the pointwhere the pipe enters the building, with a valve having a movable partor closure so constructed that it has a tendency to assume a closedposition either by gravity of the parts or by means of anactuating-spring, together with means for holding the valve normallyinits open position, embracing a fusible connection so constructed andarranged that when it is melted by heat the valve-closure will bereleased and eiiectively close the valve. Means for holding thevalve-closure open consists of a rod or stem attached to or moving withthe closure and a split thimble inserted in the wall of the valve-casingand through which the said stem or rod passes, said thimble beingprovided with a lining or bushing of fusible metal, such as lead, whichlining or bushing surrounds the rod or stem and is clamped thereto bythe action of the split part of the bushing when the latter is screwedinto its place in the casing.

My invention also includes, as an additional feature, a mass orcartridge of explosive material located in contact with a thin outerpart of the wall of the casing in s uch manner that it will act, whenexploded, upon the valve-plug in a direction to throw the same into itsclosed position, such explosive being adapted for ignition by heattransmitted thereto through the part of the wall of the casing withwhich it is in contact.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view incentral longitudinal section of a valve embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a horizontal section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the split thimble severed from the other parts. Fig.4 illustrates a modified form of the connection between the valve stemor rod and the surrounding casing through which said stem or rod passes.

As shown in the said drawings, A indicates a pipe leading from agas-main, A a pipe leading to a meter or toward the distributingpipes ofthe building, and B a valve-casing connecting the pipes A and A. Saidcasing B has a vertically-arranged valve-chamber B, which is tapered orconical on its lower part. The said valve-chamber B extends transverselyacross the main passage through the valve-casing B and is provided withopposite lateral ports b b', constituting parts of said passage.

O is a valve closure or plug of conical form ada ted to fit within theconical lower portion of t e valve-chamber B in such manner as to closethe ports b b', but which may be lifted into the upper part of the seator chamber B, so as to a'ord free passage of gas from one to the otherof said ports. The top of the valve-chamber B is closed by means of acap D, preferably connected therewith by screwthreaded joint. Thevalve-plug C is provided with a downwardly-extending stem E, whichpasses at its lower end througha thimble F, which has screw-threadedengagement with the valve-casing at the lower end of the valve-chamber Band which serves to close the lower end of said valve-chamber. Thethimble F is provided at its inner end with longitudinal slits f andwithin said inner end with a bushing or lining G, of lead or otherfusible metal. When the thimble F is screwed into the casing, the partsthereof between the slits fare contracted, thus compressing thesoft-metal bushing Garound the stem E, so as to both hold said stem fromdownward movement and to aHord a tight joint or connection between thestem and the surrounding thimble. Said thimble F will be screwed intothe opening of the casing far enough to bring the slits f entirelywithin the ICO IOS

said o ening, so that the solid part of the thimb e outside of the saidslits will engage the walls of the opening, and thus make a tight jointbetween the thimble and the casm0'.

t'Ihe bushing G being made of easily-fusible metal, such as lead, incase the device is heated above the melting-point of such fusible metalby the head of fire in the neighborhood of the valve the bushing will bemelted, and thus release the rod E, permitting the valve-closure to falland close the valve.

I preferably make the fusible-metal bushing G shorter than the length ofthe thimble F and locate said ring at the inner part of l said thimble,leaving an interior space at the outer part thereof, which is filled bya ring or mass H, of Celluloid or other inflammable material. Suchfilling H, of Celluloid or the like, will be ignited by contact of'liames therewith and in burning generates heat sufficient to insure themelting of the fusible-metal bushing G. I preferably make the outer partof the bore of the thimble F of outwardly-tapering form, as shown, sothat the outer surface of the combustible filling I-I is of considerablewidth, thereby giving larger surface for exposure to flames in theneighborhood of the valve and insuring more rapid combustion of theinflammable material when ignited.

As a still further improvement I extend the vend of the rod E somewhatbelow the thimble F and provide the same with a transverse aperture, inwhich is inserted a rod or strip I, of Celluloid or other inflammablematerial, the ends of which extend from the rod beneath and adjacent tothe inflammable filling H. Such a rod or strip I will be readily ignitedby flames, and as soon as ignition thereof takes place the heat therebyroduced quickly ignites the inflammable fi ling I-I, thus insuring quickand rapid burning of the latter.

As a still further improvement in valves of this character I providebetween the top of the valve-closure C and the cap D of the casting amass or cartridge J of gunpowder or other explosive. In the particularconstruction illustrated the mass of explosive J is surrounded orinclosed by an air-tight and waterproof shell K, preferably made ofcelluloid, and which serves to confine the explosive and to protect thesame from action of moisture or gases. The top of the plug C ispreferably made concave and the inner surface of the cap D ofcorresponding shape, while the inclosing shell K of the explosivecartridge is made of rounded form, so as to fit the cavity formedbetween the concave faces of the plug and cap. The said cap D is made asthin as consistent with proper strength, so that it is adapted toreadilyT transmit to the explosive charge igniting heat from flames thatcome in contact with the casing.

The explosive charge or cartridge arranged in the manner describedserves to insure the seating of the valve-closure whether thefusible-metal ring G be melted out before the explosive is ignited ornot. Primarily the purpose of the explosive cartridge is to force theplug into its seat, and thus insure the certain cutting off of thepassage of gas through the pipes, the force of the explosive beingsufficient to disrupt the connection between the rod or stem E and thecasing, and thus insure the closing of the valve when the explosivecharge is ignited. If the bushing G be melted out and because ofcorrosion of the parts or for other reason the valve fails to properlyclose by gravity, the cartridge will finally be exploded when the casingis sufficiently heated to effect ignition and the plugl driven forciblyinto its closed position.

As the thimble provided with the fusiblemetal bushing affords a tightjoint or connection between the rod E and the casing and as the top ofthe valve-chamber is closed by the cap D, the valve-casing ispermanently closed, and no leakage of gas therefrom can occur.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified construction in a safety-valveembracing a fusible-metal bushing or ring which serves the same purposeas the bushing G in both holding the rod from endwise movement andforming a tight joint between the rod and the part of the casing throughwhich the rod passes. In this case the valve-plug C has a stem whichrises through a cap M, constituting the upper part of the valve-casing.A coiled expansively-acting spring N is interposed between the cap M andthe valve-plug C and tends to throw the latter into its closed position.A ring O, of lead, solder, or other fusible metal, surrounds the rod orstem I and forms a tight joint between the stem and the cap M, thefusible metal being adherent both to the stem and the cap, the fusiblemetal being applied in a molten state, as is done in soldering two metalparts together. The ring thus applied forms a gas or air tight' jointbetween the stem and casing, in this respect acting in the same manneras the ring or bushing G, which is clamped to the stem by the action ofthe split thimble F, the fusible-metal ring in both cases being adaptedto be melted by heat, so as to release the stem and permit the closingof the valve.

In both forms of the device described the rod projects beyond or outsideof the fusiblemetal ring by which it is connected with the casing. Oneadvantage of this construction is that heat is conveyed by the rod fromits outer end directly to the fusible ring to insure the prompt fusingof the latter and release of the valve-closure. Another advantage isthat the outer end of the rod being exposed or projecting outside of thevalve-casing the valve may be quickly closed by a blow on the rod incases where such action is ICO IlO

found practicable or desirable before a fire in a building reaches theimmediate vicinity of the valve.

I claim as my invention- 1. A safety-valve for gas-pipe comprising avalve-casing, a movable valve-closure, a stem or rod attached to theclosure and extending outwardly through the valve-casing and a ring offusible metal surrounding the rod and through which the latter projects,said ring constituting a tight closure between the said rod and thesurrounding part of the casing and serving to connect the rod with thecasing in a manner to hold the closure from movement.

2. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing, a movablevalve-closure, and means for holding said closure in its open positionembracing a rod or stem, and a split thimble through which said rodextends, said thimble being provided with a bushing of fusible metal.

3. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing, a movablevalve-closure and means for holding said closure in its open po* sitionembracing a rod or stem, and a split thimble through which said rodextends, said thimble being provided with a bushing of fusible metal andwith an external filling of inflammable material.

4. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing, a movablevalve-closure, and means for holding the closure in its open positionembracing a stem or rod which extends outwardly through the wall of thecasing, a ring of fusible metal forming a tight joint between the rod orstem and the casing, and a mass or filling of inflammable materiallocated outside of and in contact with said fusible-metal ring.

5. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing, a closurewhich has a tend# ency to assume a closed position, and means forholding said closure in its open position embracing a rod or stem, and asplit thimble through which said rod extends, a bushing of fusible metalin said thimble an external filling of iniiammable material in saidthimble, and a strip or bar of inflammable material attached to said rodoutside of the bushing.

6. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing, a closurewhich has a tendency to assume a closed position, and means for holdingsaid closure in its open position embracing a rod or stem, a splitthimble through which said rod extends, said thimble being provided witha bushing of fusible material, and an explosive mass or cartridgelocated in contact with the outer wall of the casing and adapted to actupon the closure in a direction to throw the same into its closedposition,

7. A safety-valve for gas-pipes comprising a valve-casing having atransverse valvechamber, a movable valve-plug in said chamber, aremovable cap closing the chamber at its end outside of said plug, ascrew-threaded thimble inserted in the opposite end of said chamber andclosing the saine, and a rod which holds the valve-plug in its openposition and passes through said thimble; said thimble being providedwith a ring orbushing of fusible metal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of May, A. D.1905.

ADOLPI-I IV. J EN CZEI/VSKY.

IVitnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLE,

I. R. VILKINs.

